olaobrien's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Loading map...
Riga, Latvia

The World of Hat

A small museum contains one of the largest collections of ethnic and traditional headgear in the world.
Riga, Latvia

First-Ever Public Christmas Tree Marker

A stone marker and sculpture in the city of Riga stake a claim for the very first community Christmas tree.
Riga, Latvia

House of the Blackheads

The reconstruction of this prominent building fulfilled a long-written command.
Riga, Latvia

Black Cat of Riga

A black cat protests the City Guild in Riga's Old Town.
Riga, Latvia

The Three Brothers

The oldest housing complex in Riga is a mini timeline of architectural trends.
Wrocław, Poland

Wrocław’s Former City Prison

This ex-prison dates back to the Middle Ages.
Milan, Italy

Crypt of San Sepolcro

Saint Borromeo often prayed in this austere crypt during the 16th century.
Milan, Italy

'Saint Bartholomew Flayed'

This grisly effigy displays an early Christian martyr who was skinned alive and beheaded.
Bergamo, Italy

Visconti-Sforza Tarot Cards

Beautifully decorated tarot cards from the Middle Ages.
Bergamo, Italy

Cappella Colleoni

If you ever wanted to touch a medieval mercenary’s three testicles, look no further.
Matera, Italy

Sassi di Matera

People have been living in the cave houses on this Italian hillside since the Neolithic era.
Matera, Italy

The Crypt of the Original Sin

A cave in southern Italy adorned with thousand-year-old Biblical frescoes existed in obscurity until fairly recently.
Matera, Italy

Chiesa del Purgatorio

Skulls and skeletons are omnipresent in this church dedicated to souls trapped in purgatory.
Bari, Italy

Manna of St. Nicholas of Bari

A dead saint, a deadly poison, and a mysterious holy ooze.
Palermo, Italy

The Martorana

This mosaic-lined medieval church was built by the world's first admiral and still holds mass in ancient Greek.
Anagni, Italy

Cripta di San Magno

The “Sistine Chapel” of the Middle Ages merges 11th-century science and religion in wondrous hues.
Montpellier, France

Musée d’Anatomie de Montpellier

This French anatomy museum greets guests with a skinless man, mid-shovel.
Vers-Pont-du-Gard, France

Pont du Gard

This ancient Roman bridge and aqueduct still stands as a wonder of classical construction.
Marseille, France

Notre-Dame de la Garde's Nautical Ex-Voto

Sky ships, planes, and portraits left as unique tokens of hope and thankfulness.
Montpellier, France

Villa Des Cent Regards

100-windowed castle turned art gallery, built by one dedicated mason.
Gdańsk, Poland

Gdansk Astronomical Clock

A huge wooden clock that is so beautiful its creator was forcibly blinded.
Gdańsk, Poland

Dwór Artusa

A merchant court dedicated to the fictitious King Arthur is heavily adorned with bizarre Renaissance art.
Gdańsk, Poland

Old Prussian Hags of Northern Pomerania

These rare statues are one of the few remaining material witnesses to Old Prussian culture.
Gdańsk, Poland

Archaeological Remains at Hala Targowa (Market Hall)

Several 12th-century ruins can be found inside this historical market.